The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Bob Miller, a former Buddhist monk and translator specializing in ancient Buddhist texts. The show not only discusses Buddhism and Bob’s experiences but also the art of translation. What goes into translating Tibetan and Sanskrit into English? How does a human do this? Moreover, how would AI do this? And what would AI miss? Today’s show is about language, thought, thinking, and feeling and what might we gain and/or lose when AI translates or generates for […]

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns welcome Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center. Jane, an experienced educator and writer, delves deep into the implications of using AI in educational settings.Jane discusses her initial skepticism and gradual exploration of AI tools. She talks about an op-ed she wrote just prior to the release of ChatGPT, which foreshadowed the current discourse around AI in writing.The conversation shifts to Jane’s course titled “To What Problem is […]

In this episode of The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators, hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns engage with veteran social studies teacher Peter Paccone to discuss the transformative effects of AI on teaching methodologies, particularly in the context of Advanced Placement (AP) courses.Key themes explored include the adaptation of AP exam rubrics to accommodate the complexities of AI integration in educational settings. Paccone emphasizes the nuanced relationship between student’s writing skills and […]

In this episode of “AI for Educators,” the hosts, Pat and Mike, discuss their experience with Ray Naylor, a well-regarded science fiction author known for his book “The Mountain and the Sea,” and his latest work, “The Tusks of Extinction.” Ray, who also serves as a Foreign Service Officer, shares insights from his diverse global experiences and his perspective on AI, cybernetics, and large language models. He emphasizes the difference between AI and human consciousness, underscoring the […]

Mike Pearson and Pat Burns are back after an unplanned hiatus. In this episode the hosts discuss many things effed up, including the F word, the rapid and continuous changes brought about by AI and how that can feel effed up. This show focuses first on Pat’s hiatus, shifts to the F word, then gets in depth with personalized GPts that OpenAI released in mid-November. Mike and Pat narrate some example GPTs. Mike shows Pat a few that he has written for students and schools, including a School […]

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns welcome Distinguished Professor Lauren Goodlad of CriticalAI to discuss AI, AI hype, and Critical Thinking in a time of AI. Although Professor Goodlad respects those working in AI, she also offers critical insight into problematic AI industry claims and emphasizes the lack of ethical oversight or ethical planning in the AI industry. This episode offers context and answers to these questions:Why is public understanding of AI lacking?How can humanities disciplines […]

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Anna Mills about her work with OpenAI, college writing, students, education, plagiarism and policy. Anna Mills is an experienced college writing instructor and the the author of an Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College, Additionally, Anna is one of the leading voices in the discussion of AI, higher education, and writing.In this show, Mike Pearson, Pat Burns and Anna Mills […]

In this episode, Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Eric Kean, creator of MyEssayFeedback.ai, which is a website designed to provide feedback on student essays in order to help them to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. The tool’s design offers features for instructors to customize feedback, monitor student progress, and guide essay direction. The discussion also touches upon data privacy and plagiarism concerns and the importance of AI literacy. The conversation also […]

In this episode of the Bot Brothers AI for Educators, hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns discuss practical strategies for educators as they navigate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the classroom. With the new school year underway, they delve into 5 key considerations for teachers.The hosts encourage educators to embrace the evolving landscape of AI in education, approaching it with a sense of adventure and a focus on students’ holistic development. By addressing these […]

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns have a conversation with high school Department Chair Dr. Lauren Katzman (PhD) on a variety of topics, ranging from educators’ varying perspectives on AI, the challenges of defining plagiarism in the AI era, and the potential of AI in streamlining administrative tasks, and developing school policies for AI. The conversation later delves into specific areas like senior dual credit writing classes, where they emphasize the importance of fostering student […]